Lack of pattern is driving me insane!

[MissTwister]

I've posted on here before about this but at 28 weeks now I am still awaiting any kind of baby movement pattern. I keep reading about how important it is for the welfare of baby that I am on top of this but it's just impossible.

For instance baby had been very very active yesterday day and over the night before, I was feeling them every hour and lots of kicks/ wriggles. After weeks of sporadic activity every few hours I thought finally this was my pattern. Then last night at 9pm it just slowed right down again and where baby would normally be going wild when I went to bed I barely felt anything (but did feel some movement). Queue a night of not sleeping/ worrying. I've felt movement since but lots less than Mon/ Tues - however I guess it's about the same as prior to that. It really does seem to have no pattern

So what's my normal!? I know people will say go get checked if you're worried but currently I'm worried pretty much constantly as its so hard to get a gauge!

Any advice?

Sorry no advice but I'm 34 weeks and exactly the same, no pattern as such just random wriggling.

Do you get busy days and quiet days?

I'm 30 weeks and its the same here.
This week baby has been going crazy during the day - all day - whereas last week he didn't move as much, just maybe once or twice every hour and a half - 2 hours.
This is my first so not sure what I'm supposed to expect anyway but I'm not worried about not enough movement or anything :)

I'm 31 weeks into my second pregnancy and neither babies have ever had a pattern! I just trust my instinct, if baby is moving at least every couple of hours then I assume everything is fine. I've had a couple of quiet periods where I've panicked but movement has always started up again.
FWIW DD also resisted any form of routine for the first year of her life, I just don't think she understands routine and patterns

14 years ago the advice iirc was to be aware of 10 kicks a day, I can't remember any advice about pattern I'd have been up the wall with worry with my wriggly baby who just wriggled when we fancied it!

Thanks all - I just feel such a responsibility for if something is wrong and I've missed it or ignored it!

I'm 38 weeks today and no pattern at all. She moves when she wants to and as long as I feel her every few hours then I'm happy. I have been into the hospital for monitoring twice and both times she was moving way more than I could feel. Once was at 33 weeks and once at 36 weeks. I have an anterior placenta right in the middle at the front and it still hides a lot. At my 36 week monitoring they had to keep moving the large heartbeat pads as baby kept moving away from them but I wasn't feeling it and they weren't at all concerned.

Always ring up and go in if you're concerned, that's what they are there for and it really does make you feel so much better

I'm with you. There is a disconnect between the advice online and the advice I've been given by HCPs. Neither my midwife nor consultant have ever mentioned that babies are supposed to have a pattern. Whenever I've asked them about it, they say not to worry, babies sometimes have duvet days, they just can't let you know in advance. Other babies are just more sleepy or active generally.

I know there are some very passionate proponents of count the kicks etc. here, but I think that website has a lot to answer for. It's vague, for a start - what actually is a pattern? Are you supposed to be able to set your watch by it? Is baby supposed to always respond to certain stimulus? How much of a change should worry me and what if a pattern isn't established, as seems to be the case for quite a few people? What if the pattern changes every few days? What if baby changes position and therefore the movements change? What about when they grow more and sleep more?

So I stepped away from Google, CTK and MN on this subject. As long as I feel him relatively often and every day, I'm happy. I don't buy this pattern stuff. I know it's well-meant, but I think it's more alarming than reassuring.

And yes, mine has quieter days and more active days. I'm nearly 34 weeks now.

Below is from Baby Centre but Count the Kicks and all other sites seem to say the same!

Try to tune in to your baby's pattern of movements during waking hours. As your pregnancy progresses, it gets easier to learn this rhythm. Every baby has a different pattern of waking and sleeping, and it's helpful to get to know what's normal for your baby.

If you notice a change in your baby's pattern of movements, or are worried at any stage, contact your midwife or maternity unit straight away so that they can check his wellbeing.

Thanks Teeste - makes sense!

37 weeks and no pattern other than thar she is quieter through the night. She was quieter yesterday but moving and today she is back to her normal fidget bum self.

It's so strange! Baby is definitely moving around but compared to the last couple of days it's been so much less. But the same as a few days ago.....

Honestly, I think you are over thinking this. Do you move in exactly the same way every day? A new born baby doesn't move in the same way each day so why would a baby inside the womb? Baby is moving and that's great.

Agree with Teeste!!

I'm 30 weeks and have no pattern. I am happy as long as baby moves every few hours although I have been on the CTG monitor a couple times!

31weeks...no pattern. She has her mega wiggly days, and then her quiet days. The only time i've gotten really worried was when I had 12hours straight with nothing discernible, and none of my usual tricks to get her moving worked (they don't always work, but that combined with 12hours of no perceptual movement worried me). Anyway, called the DAU, went in, and within minutes of being strapped up, she threw a party. Typical. The MWs were great though, and also did a fetal fibronectin test as i was having very regular BH contractions during the trace. Now if i think my LO is being overly quiet, I just try to get her wiggling by stroking my tummy, singing and dancing, and having a cold drink, and then I threaten her with getting the "big girls" around to her front door again if she doesn't perk up!